heysinqer



(No Model.)

I. .W. HEYSINGER.

ARTISTS COLOR HOLDER AND PALETTE. No., 307,768.

Patented Nov. 11, 1884,

r WITNESSES: INVENTOR N. PETKRS Pholo l|lhugmphen Washington. ac.

' and adapted to expose for use but one color at llhvrrnn dramas- Pa'rnn'r @rrrnn.

ISAAO W. HEYSING-ER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARTISTS COLOR HOLDER AND PALETTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,768, dated November 11. 1884.

Application filed April 30, 1884. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Isaac W. Hnvsrnenn, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Artists Color-Holders and Palettes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this speci- 3 is a vertical section showing the outer PI'O,

tecting-cover, the inner color-holding tray, two opposite color cups or receptacles, the screw-knob by which the tray is rotated, and the binding or friction spring which securely holds the color-cups against the cover and pre vents rotation of the disk unless the knob be pressed upon. Fig. 4 shows the color-tray provided with a concentric double series of colorcups, the same being also of a different shape from those shown in the other figures. Fig. 5 shows the protectingcover prolonged at one side into the shape of an ordinary palette, to give room for the lateral thumb-handle E; also the cover provided with a single aperture, a,

the same time, instead of several or all, as in the other figures, and in which the name of the color imprinted upon the disk is visible through a corresponding aperture in the cover, instead of upon the under side. Fig. 6 shows a modification of the handle E of Fig. 5, whercby the thumb-handle is applied to a device of my invention without prolonging the surface laterally, as in the said Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the color-holding tray divided so as to show the brush-holder, with the spring-clamp which holds the brushes therein, and a brush in place.

Thelettering in all the figures is uniform.

My invention relates to a device for holding artists colors, in which they may be carried securely in the pocket, or used by children or others, and in which all the parts required for use-to wit, the box for holding the colors, the different colors themselves, the protectingcover therefor, the palette for mixing them, and the brushesare all held securely united in one implement, so that the colors cannot drop out or become scattered about, while they are protected from exposure or injury until required for use, and are instantly brought into view by a slight turn of the central knob, as hereinafter explained.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 3 shows in section the working parts of the device. B is a disk, of wood, metal, or other substance, provided with a concentric series of cups or re .cesses around the edge of the upper surface,

and usually equidistant from each other. These cup shaped recesses are preferably placed at such distances from each other that the space between each two adjacent ones shall a little more than equal the diameter of each cup. I somewhat bevel off this disk or color holding tray B at the periphery, as shown in Fig. 8, for the sake of neatness and strength. \Vhen it is made of wood, I bore out the recesses to the depth required, as well as the other holes and depressions required; but when of metal I prefer, to stamp the disk, with its cups, out of a sheet-metal blank, or solder the cups, &c., to a spun-up and properly-perforated disk, as economy may require. If of rubber, I mold the whole at one operation, as is usual with similar articles, and I sometimes make it of porcelain, in which case it is m0lded in biscuit, then glazed and baked. In expensive styles glazed or enameled metal may be employed-such as is used in the dials of clocks, the enameled letters used for signs, &c.'; or the whole may be cast in white or other metal and nickel-plated or otherwise finished. These cups or depressions "b Z)" are shown in the dotted lines of Figs. 2 and 6, and through the top plate or cover in Fig. 1, and are also seen in section in Fig. 3. At the center of the disk B is a small vertical hole or support for the reception of the screw or shank upon which as a center the said disk rotates.

A, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, is a protecting-cover provided with a flange or foot at its edge, and which in use rests upon the table, and through ICO apertures in the top surface of which cover are reached the colors in the tray B beneath. The part A consists of a flat, preferably circular, plate provided with a foot or flanged edge, A, which, when it rests upon the table, allows the disk B to freely rotate within it, and having a central hole to admit the free passage of the screw or shank of a thumb-knob, which is secured to the center of the disk or tray B and rotates the same. The means by which this is accomplished is shown in Fig. 3. A thumb- .knob, D, projects above the flat plate A, and is provided with a screw or shank, which, passing freely through the central hole in the plate A, is securely fixed in the diskB in such manner that as the thumb-knob D is rotated it will correspondingly rotate the disk B beneath.

Between the knob D and the top surface of the plate A, ,I interpose a spring, d, which may be of coiled wire or of any other form desired. I however prefer to make it of a cruciform piece of light spring metal, pierced at the center, so that the under surface of the knob shall bearupon the arched center of the cross, and the arms thereof shall rest by their extremities upon the flat plate or cover A around the central hole. This spring will bear up the knob D, and consequently the disk B, so as to clamp it against the under surface of the plate A and make a closely-fitting cover for the color-cups b b b", and also prevent the rotation of the said disk B beneath and with in the flanged cover A A; but by placing the thumb and finger upon the knob D in theact of turning it a slight pressure will compress the spring and cause the knob D and disk B to slightly descend, so as to allow the same toa be freely rotated, closing up again as soon as the thumb and finger are removed. By using a screw, (1, as I prefer to do, it may be tightened up to any pres'sure'or resistance desired, and when liquid colors are used in the cups, as I sometimes do, the under surface of the cover A may be coated with some elastic substance to make a water or air tight joint.

Around the edge of the flat plate A, through its top surface and concentric with the screw d, so as to coincide with the series of colorcups 1) I) b in the disk B, is a corresponding series of apertures, a a a, likewise equidistant from each other. It is now obvious that if the disk B be rotated so that the holes a a a in the plate A present themselves immediately over the color-holding cups 1) b b of the disk B the device will show a series of colors, which may be used as on an ordinary palette, the space within the series of holes, extending to the center of the plateA, being utilized as a palette-surface for combining and testing the shades and colors required for use. For this purpose I finish the top plate, A, in nickel-plate, enamel, porcelain, hard wood, or other suitable material, having due regard for strength and lightness. When the colorure upon and turn of the knob D to a slight degree will release the disk B from contact with the under surface of the plate A and rotate it to the right or left the distance of a half-space between the contiguous color-cups, at which point aregulating-stop may be placed, if desired, when the spring (1 will close up the disk B under the cover A at such point as to the upper surface of the disk B, through the apertures a a a, the spaces of the cover A between the adjacent holes a a a serving as lids or covers for the color-'cups,which now lie beneath.

When economy of space is a prime object, I sometimes use only a single aperture, a, in the plate A, as is shown in Fig. 5, and turn the disk B beneath, so as to bring the color-cups b 12 b sucessively under this aperture a, instead of uncovering all at one time, and in such ries of color-cups set closely together, having only a single interspace, b, to show a blank when rotated under the aperture a of the cover A; or I sometimes set one half the circle of the disk B closely with color-cups and leave the other half blank, and cut out one-half the circle of the plate A to correspond thereto, so that a half-turn of the knob D will uncover all or close all, or I modify them as desired, conforming to the principles of my invention as laid down.

In Fig. 4. I show a double concentric series of color-holding cups, 9 g g, g g g, the cups of the inner row being smaller, so as to be uncov ered by the same rotation required to uncover the outer and larger ones, the angular dis- \tances upon the center being the same. I also in this Fig. at show the cups oblong or square, in which shape they are well adapted to receive the little porcelain dishes or pans used for holding moist water colors, whole dishes in the outer row, and half-dishes in the inner. lVhen these loose colors are thus used, I adapt the apertures a a a in the plate A to this in such way that the sides of the porcelain dishes may be larger than the holes (H1, at, so that when once introduced, which is done by screwing out the screw d, or may be done by having one of the apertures a in each series a little larger than the others, or in various other ways, there are securely held in place.

The colors I prefer to use in my device are the ordinary cake colors of various qualities, which I force into the color-cups in a moist state and mold them securely therein, where they are allowed to dry.

To prevent discoloration of the wood of the disk B, when wood is used, I varnish it with a hard white varnish, or prepare it with paraffine. Suitably-shaped cakes of color may also be dropped into the color-cups and fastened therein by mucilage or by having the holes a a smaller than the diameter of the color cakes,

cups are no longer required, a simple pressas explained above in referring to the porcecase I fill the circle of the disk B with a se-' show only a series of blank parts, I) b b, of

ICO

IIO

lain dishes for moist colors. Ialso modify the color-cups in form, so as to receive the tubes of oilcolors now in common use, which may lie in radial grooves in the disk B, prolonged toward the center, having their nozzles project into the spaces beneath the apertures a a a in the cover A. In such case the tubes are compressed through openings made at proper points in the cover A or in the disk B'beneath.

In order to indicate the colors in the cups, I emboss, indent, or imprint upon the disk B the names of the colors contained in the adjacent color-cups, so that they may be instantly known. In Fig. 2 I do this by imprinting the names upon the under surface of the disk, and immediately under their proper colorcups. As in Fig. 5, I imprint them upon the upper surface, and expose them through a slot, a, in the cover A, the essential feature being that the colors and names shall always remain relatively fixed, however the disk B be turned.

In order to adapt the device for the use of artists when sketching or in studios, I sometimes provide the eolor-holder with a handle for the thumb, which in Fig. 5 is accomplished by prolonging one side of the cover A laterally and providing it with a thumb-hole, E, as in palettes of the usual form.

In Fig. 6, when it is desirable, for economy of space or other purposes, to have the device in a more compact or circular form, I provide a flexible strap, E, upon the under side, fixed at the point e, and passing through a sleeve, 6, with stops 0' beyond, so that while it ordinarily lies flat against the under surface of the disk B it may be pulled up into a loop to admit the thumb, if desired.

I sometimes make the cover A with its flanged edges square, oblong, or of other shapes at pleasure, or for special purposes which may be met with in practice; and I sometimes pivot the disk or color-holding tray B off its center, and provide for a partial rotation only to close or uncover the color-holding cups. I also provide for the device the brush-holder. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 7.) This lies.

consists of a grooved channel out out of the disk B, if of wood, preferably on its under side, and extending across the lower face of the said disk, along the chord of an are, so as to avoid interference with the center screw, (1, and with the colorcups Zr b I), between which it At one end or the side of this brushholding groove b, I provide an elastic clamp, b which may be of rubber or metal, and which shall impinge against the brushes and securely hold them in the said groove until required for use, when they may be drawn out by a slight lateral pull, and replaced with the same ease.

Instead of the elastic clamp, I sometimes use a cover of other form, and where the disk B is made of metal I form the bruslrholding groove in various other ways; and I sometimes use this groove and clamp as a holder for a bottle of water or oil, or provide a similar groove for such purposes on the opposite side of the center.

It will be seen that this device is in itself a complete and extremely useful kit for an artist, as it comprises in small bulk and in the most convenient and compact form, both for transportation and use, all that an artist refrom four to six inches in diameter and about one-half inch deep; for special purposes they may be of any size required. For coloring photographs or porcelain, for decorative work by ladies or others, or for use in ordinary studios, it fulfills all the conditions required; while as a toy for children or for students in families its advantages are apparent, as chil dren cannot remove the colors and scatter them about, or infants put them into their months, while it is always cleanly and ready for use, requiring no boxes, and is far more durable in service than the color boxes and the colors in general use.

I am aware that rotary inkstands having a rotating stand provided with a number of inkreceptaeles set against each other, and provided with a cover having a single circular aperture adapted to constantly expose a single receptacle, have been known heretofore, and I do not herein claim such rotary construction, broadly, but limit my invention to the devices substantially as and for the purposes herein dtscribed and claimed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. An artists palette provided with a rotary tray for colors, adapted to'rotate beneath said palette and present its colors through two or more apertures in said palette, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the palette plate A, provided with two or more apertures, a, and the flanged support A, the rotating disk B,provided with aseries of color-holding cups, b and adapted to rotate upon a center be ITO neath the said palette-plate A, and present the I openings of the said color cups beneath the said apertures a, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. A case for artists colors having a perforated cover, and beneath it a disk provided with a series of colorholding cups, said disk being pivoted cent-rally to said cover, and adapted to rotate thereunder, so as to present the said color-cups at said perforations when required, and be rotated so as to conceal the same under the solid portions of the cover when not in use, substantially as described.

4. In combination with the perforated cover A and the rotating diskB, the series of colorholding cups 12 adapted to hold pigments of Various colors, fixed therein for use, substantially as described.

5. In an artists color-holding device, a fixed cover adapted to stand upon a table, and provided with apertures to expose the colors beneath, a disk provided with a series of color-holding cups adapted to rotate freely vided with the foot A, the series of concen tric apertures a a a, and a center hole,with the disk B, adapted to rotate underneath the same, and provided with a series of concentric colorholding cups, 1) b b and a center bearing for the pivot, together with the thumb-knob D and central screw or shank, d, whereby rotation is communicated from the said thumbknob to the said disk, substantially as de scribed.

8. In combination with the cover A, disk B, and thumb-knob and shank D d, the friction-spring d, interposed between the top surface of the cover and the under surface of the knob, and adapted to hold the disk B firmly against the under surface of the plateA. and to allow the free rotation of the said disk B by pressure upon the said knob D, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the color-holding device B, having a cover, A, and color-holding cups 1)? b b, the brush or bottle receptacle 10. In combination with the perforated cover A A and the rotating disk B, provided with color-cups b b 12 the'brush or bottle holding groove or receptacle 1) upon the under side of said disk B, substantially as described.

11. In combination with the perforated coverA A and rotating color-bearing disk B, the handle whereby the said device is adapted to be used as a palette,'substantially as described.

12. In an artists color-holder or palette, the flexible thumb-handle, consisting of the strap E, provided with the stop-lug eZ-and passing through the sleeve e, substantially as described.

13. A device for holding artists colors and for displaying the same for use, consisting of a cover provided with a peripheral flange or foot to raise the same from the table, and having one or more series of equidistant concentric apertures, with interspaces of anearly equal or greater size, and a disk rotating beneath, concentric with said series of apertures, and provided with one or more series of similarlyspaced color-holding cups, said disk being pivoted at its center, so as to present the said colorcups and expose them for use at the said apertures, or conceal them under the interspaces of the cover when not required, substantially as deseribed.

14. The combination of the knob D, shank d, friction-spring d, rotating disk B, one or more series of color-holding cups, protectingcover A, and concentric apertures a a a, the whole constructed to operate substantially as and for'lhe purposes herein shown and described.

- ISAAC W. HEYSINGER. Witnesses: P. ODoNNELL,

F. L. RoEPKn. 

